Expatriate Forums in Middle East

JOBS VACANCIES ANNOUNCEMENTS-TOTAL ENERGY PETROCHEMICAL

Mrs. Belinda — Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:03 pm

Author: Mrs. Belinda

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:03 pm

Hello Everyone,
We take this opportunity to publicly make this last announcement to every liked minded individual, that the TOTAL ENERGY PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (UK) PLC. Is hereby announcing jobs vacancies/ training programme 2009 in United Kingdom . We need the services of able men and women around the globe to fill in the jobs gap placement in our company in United Kingdom. Below are the summaries
list of jobs vacancies with Total Energy Company as follow :- Accounting / Audit / Taxation Jobs, Administration / Clerical Support / Service, Jobs, Banking, Business Analysis / Data Analysis Jobs, Business Consultancy Jobs, Business Development Jobs, Call Centre Jobs, Civil Services Jobs, Company Secretary Jobs, Customer Service Jobs, Design Jobs, Documentary Credit / Bills Processing, Energy / Natural Resources / Oil & Gas, Engineering Jobs, General Management Jobs, Hospitality / Hotel Services Jobs, Human Resources / Recruitment Jobs, Information Technology (I.T.) Jobs, Insurance Jobs, Junior Executive Jobs, Legal & Compliance Jobs, Inventorying, Marketing / Public Relations Jobs, Merchandising Jobs, Order Processing & Operation / Setting, Others Jobs, Petroleum / Petrochemical Jobs, Procurement / Purchasing / Sourcing
Jobs, Research & Development (R&D) Jobs, Research / Survey Services Jobs, Sales Jobs, Student / Fresh Graduate / No Experience, Telecommunications Jobs, Top Executives (CEO, CFO, CTO, GM, Manager, Tourism / Travel Agency Jobs, Trading Jobs, Transportation / Shipping / Freighting, and many more jobs place available.

Thanks for your audience to read this publication message.
Mrs. Belinda Clifford
(Chief international Announcement officer).
Total Energy Company Plc London - United

Moving pets from saudi to oz

desert10 — Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:51 pm

Author: desert10

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:51 pm

Does anyone know how to move a small dog from saudi to oz

Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC)

siewlee26 — Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:33 pm

Author: siewlee26

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:33 pm

Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC)

International Future City of Vietnam
Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC); the first satellite township concept in Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province; incorporates housing, commercial and recreational complexes to present the opportunity for the elite in Vietnam to experience luxury life where home, work, business and play are all within reach in a secured environment. With the essence of design contributed by specialists with hands-on housing scheme development experiences in Hong Kong, China, India, Australia and Malaysia, NTCC is shaped to be the International Future City of Vietnam!

Strategic Location
The position of NTCC in the would-be administrative center of Nhon Trach; which is about 60km from the bustling HCMC, in close proximity to numerous established industrial parks, namely Nhon Trach Industrial Park I-VI; benefits our tenants / owners in taking advantage of all the current and future planning for either Nhon Trach or its neighbouring cities in the south, collectively known as Southern Key Economic Zone.

Office Tower - NTCC’s kick off!!
NTCC will begin with the construction of our 15-storey Office Tower (Block H) which will be the first international standard high-rise office building in the heart of Nhon Trach. The elegance of the featured façade coupled with the creatively designed floor spaces shall fulfill every discerning owners’ differing investment requirements. Still hesitating? The following facts may help you decide:

- Total net floor area : approx. 16,448 m2 with typical sizes of about 76 m2 to 699 m2 / unit, or up to 1,480 m2 / floor.
- Spacious parking lots in basement and open car parks.
- Floor to ceiling height of 2.6m to 4.0m spreads out high-end visuals.
- Central air-conditioning system.
- 3 high speed passenger lifts and 1 service lift.
- Round-the-clock security services with CCTV surrounding the building.
- Managed by Professional Property Management Company.

Our elegant and first ever Office Tower in Nhon Trach is now opened for registration. It’s only 15 floors. Hurry and be amongst pioneer new owners!! For more details and registration, please contact us via :-

Marketing Hotline : +84 (933) 268 968

BEWARE OF THIS FRAUD WEBSITE

shrell — Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:32 am

Author: shrell

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:32 am

Dear all,

Just want to draw your attention. This webisite : www.trade-cm.com is a fraud website. They are a cheating party.
The address being put is suspicious and the telephone put is non contactable. My friend recently just got cheated.
He bought iPod from the website...thank god it is not expensive. They will ask you to do bank transfer but upon receiving
your money, they will not send the packages to you. also to note they will use your friends' email to send to your mailbox,
so you will think it is an email that is send by your friends.

Financial Services, Planners, Offshore Banking - Know More

bruneifinancialconsultant — Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:23 am

Author: bruneifinancialconsultant

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:23 am

If you are in the Middle East and looking for an offshore investment fund with monthly returns, and great long-term returns, email me asap.

Also, I am looking for a Financial Representative in the Middle East. If you have a strong desire to be successful, have good social skills and leadership qualities, email me to discuss something. The online Financial Facility I am talking about has transformed many people from low income to financially independent or millionaire status.

I'll hear from you soon.

FX Currency Trading / Forex FX Trading Online - Know More

admin — Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:10 pm

Author: admin

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:10 pm

Forex Trading – FX Trading

Foreign Exchange
This short introduction explains the basics of trading Forex online, a brief explanation of the markets and the major benefits of trading Forex online. There are also two scenarios describing the implications of trading in a bear as well as bull market to better acquaint you with some of the risks and opportunities in the largest and most liquid market in the world.

As an additional aid for those who are new to Forex, there is also a glossary at the bottom of this text which explains some of the terms used in connection with currency trading.

Overview
Foreign exchange , forex or just Forex are all terms used to describe the trading of the world's many currencies. The forex market is the largest market in the world, with trades amounting to more than $1.5 trillion every day. This is more than one hundred times the daily trading on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) . Most forex trading is speculative , with only a few percent of market activity representing governments' and companies' fundamental currency conversion needs.

Unlike trading on the stock market, the forex market is not carried out by a central exchange, but on the "interbank" market , which is thought of as an OTC (over the counter ) market. Trading takes place directly between the two counterparts necessary to make a trade, whether over the telephone or on electronic networks all over the world. The main centres for trading are Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. This worldwide distribution of trading centres means that the forex market is a 24-hour market.

Trading Forex
A currency trade is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another one. The currency combination used in the trade is called a cross (for example, the Euro/US Dollar, or the GB Pound/Japanese Yen.). The most commonly traded currencies are the so-called "majors" - EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCHF and GBPUSD.

The most important forex market is the spot market as it has the largest volume. The market is called the spot market because trades are settled "immediately" or on the spot. In practice this means within two banking days.

Trading on Margin
Trading on margin means that you can buy and sell assets that represent more value than the capital in your account. Forex trading is usually done with relatively little margin since currency exchange rate fluctuations tend to be less than one or two percent on any given day. To take an example, a margin of 2.0% means you can trade up to $500,000 even though you only have $10,000 in your account. In terms of leverage this corresponds to 50:1, because 50 times $10,000 is $500,000, or put another way, $10,000 is 2.0% of $500.000. Using this much leverage gives you the possibility to make profits very quickly, but there is also a greater risk of incurring large losses and even being completely wiped out. Therefore, it is inadvisable to maximise your leveraging as the risks can be very high. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.

Why trade Forex?

24 hour trading
One of the major advantages of trading forex is the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day from Sunday evening (20:00 GMT) to Friday evening (22:00 GMT). This gives you a unique opportunity to react instantly to breaking news that is affecting the markets.
Superior liquidity
The forex market is so liquid that there are always buyers and sellers to trade with. The liquidity of this market, especially that of the major currencies, helps ensure price stability and low spreads . The liquidity comes mainly from large and smaller banks that provide liquidity to investors, companies, institutions and other currency market players.
No commissions
The fact that forex is often traded without commissions makes it very attractive as an investment opportunity for investors who want to deal on a frequent basis. Trading the "majors" is also cheaper than trading other crosss because of the high level of liquidity. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
50:1 Leverage
With a minimum account of USD 10,000, for example, you can trade up to USD 500,000. The USD 10,000 is posted on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.
Profit potential in falling markets
Since the market is constantly moving, there are always trading opportunities, whether a currency is strengthening or weakening in relation to another currency. When you trade currencies, they literally work against each other. If the EURUSD declines, for example, it is because the U.S. dollar gets stronger against the Euro and vice versa. So, if you think the EURUSD will decline (that is, that the Euro will weaken versus the dollar), you would sell EUR now and then later you buy Euro back at a lower price and take your profits. The opposite trading scenario would occur if the EURUSD appreciates .

Important Forex Trading Terms

Spread
The spread is the difference between the price that you can sell currency at ( Bid ) and the price you can buy currency at ( Ask ). The spread on majors is usually 5 pips under normal market conditions. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Pips
A pip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. When trading forex you will often hear that there is a 5-pip spread when you trade the majors. This spread is revealed when you compare the bid and the ask price, for example EURUSD is quoted at a bid price of 0.9875 and an ask price of 0.9880. The difference is USD 0.0005, which is equal to 5 "pips". On a contract or position, the value of a pip can easily be calculated. You know that the EURUSD is quoted with four decimals, so all you have to do is the cancel-out the four zeros on the amount you trade and you will have one pip. Thus, on a EURUSD 100,000 contract, one pip is USD 10. On a USDJPY 100,000 contract, one pip is equal to 1000 yen, because USDJPY is quoted with only two decimals.

Trading Scenario - Trading Rising Prices
If you believe that the Euro will strengthen against the dollar you'll want to buy Euro now and sell it back later at a higher price.

You buy Euro	We quote EURUSD at Bid 0.9875 and Ask 0.9880, which means that you can sell 1 Euro for 0.9875 USD or buy 1 Euro for 0.9880 USD. In this example you buy Euro 100,000, at the quote price of 0.9880 (ask price) per Euro.
The market turns	Later the market turns in favour of the Euro and the EURUSD is now quoted at Bid 0.9894 and Ask 0.9899.
Now you want to sell your Euro and get the profit	You sell Euro at a Bid price of 0.9894.
The profit is calculated as follows:	Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9894 minus 0.9880) multiplied by 100.000 = $140 Profit (Note that the profit or loss is always expressed in the secondary currency )

Trading Scenario - Trading Falling Prices
If, on the other hand, you believe that the Euro will weaken against the dollar, you'll want to sell EURUSD.

You sell Euro	We quote EURUSD at a Bid price of 0.9875 and Ask price of 0.9880 and you decide to sellEuro 100,000 at a Bid price of 0.9875.
The market moves in your favour	The Euro weakens against the dollar and the EURUSD is now quoted at bid 0.9744 and ask 0.9749.
Now you buy back your Euro	You buy EUR at an ask price of 0.9749.
Your Profit/loss is then	Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9875 minus 0.9749) multiplied by 100.000 = $ 1260 Profit

Remember that trading EUR 100,000 as we have done in our examples, does not mean that you have to put up Euro 100,000 yourself. It means that you have to deposit 2.0% of Euro 100,000, which is Euro 2,000 on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.

Further Reading
To see how you can trade the forex market and benefit from our toolbox of information and live quotes, please proceed to our Forex Quick Start found under the Trading menu on the toolbar, under Forex.

Glossary

Appreciation	Anincrease in the value of a currency.
Ask	Theprice at which you can buy. Traders also speak of an ask price,the price requested. This usually indicates the lowest price aseller will accept.
Basecurrency	Thecurrency that the investor buys or sells (i.e. EUR in EURUSD).
Bear	Someonewho believes prices are heading down. A bear market is one inwhich there is a sustained fall in prices and which does not looklike it will recover quickly.
Bid	Theprice at which you can sell. Traders also speak of a bid price,the price offered. This usually indicates the top price apurchaser will pay.
Bid/Ask	TheBid rate is the rate at which you sell. The Ask (or offer) rate isthe rate at which you can buy.
Bull	Someonewho is optimistic about the market. A bull market is characterisedby enthusiastic and sustained buying.
cross	Whentrading currencies, the investor buys one currency againstanother. These two currencies form the cross: for example, EURUSD.
Crossrate	Anexchange rate that is calculated from two other exchange rates.
Depreciation/decline	Afall in the value of a currency.
Exchangerate	Whatone currency is worth in terms of another, for example the $Amight be worth 58 US cents or 70 yen. Currencies traded freely onforeign-exchange markets have a spot rate (applying to tradessettled 'spot', ie, two working days hence) and a forward rate.Countries can determine their exchange rates in a variety of ways:a floating exchange rate system where the currency finds its ownlevel in the market; a crawling or flexible peg system which is acombination of an officially fixed rate and frequent smalladjustments which in theory work against a build-up of speculationabout a revaluation or devaluation; a fixed exchange-rate systemwhere the value of the currency is set by the government and/orthe central bank.
EURUSD	Meansthat you trade EUR against dollars. If you buy Euro you pay indollars and if you sell Euro you receive dollars.
FX,Forex, Foreign Exchange	Allnames for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. youbuy £100.00 with $150.25 or sell $150.25 for £100.00.
Interbank	Short-term(often overnight) borrowing and lending between banks, as distinctfrom banks' business with their corporate clients or otherfinancial institutions.
Interestrate differential	Theyield spread between two otherwise comparable debt instrumentsdenominated in different currencies.
Leverage(gearing)	Inthis case leverage means that the investor only funds part of theamount traded.
Long	Tobuy.
Longposition	Aposition that increases its value if market prices increase.
Liquid(-ity)	Thecapacity to be converted easily and with minimum loss into cash.Ultra-short-dated treasury notes are an example of a liquidinvestment. A liquid market is one in which there is enoughactivity to satisfy both buyers and sellers.
Margin	Theinitial amount or deposit required when entering into a position.Margin is a guarantee for future performance.
NYSE	Acomputerised system providing brokers with the prices of sharesand securities traded on the New York stock exchange and over thecounter. The quotes are published in real-time.
Openposition	Aposition in a currency that has not yet been offset. For example,if you have bought 100,000 USDJPY, you have an open position inUSDJPY until you offset it by selling 100,000 USDJPY.
"Overthe counter"	Whentrading takes place directly between two parties, rather than onan exchange.
Pips	Apip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. Soif EURUSD bid is now quoted at 0.9767 and it moves up 2 pips, itwill now be quoted at 0.9769.
Position	Money-market,futures, foreign-exchange and sharemarket traders talk of 'takinga position' which simply means buying or selling one currencycross. 'Position' can also refer to a trader'scash/securities/currencies balance, whether he or she is short ofcash, has money to lend, is overbought or oversold in a currency,etc.
Risk	Tryingto control outcomes to a known or predictable range of gains orlosses. Risk management involves a set of steps which begin with asound understanding of one's business and the exposures or risksthat have to be covered to protect the value of that business.Then an assessment should be made of the types of variables thatcan affect the business and how best to protect against unwelcomeoutcomes. Consideration must also be given to the preferred riskprofile - whether one is risk- averse or fairly aggressive inapproach. This also involves deciding which instruments to use tomanage risk, and whether a natural hedge exists that can be used.Once undertaken, a risk-management strategy should be continuallyassessed for effectiveness and cost.
Secondarycurrency (variable currency or counter currency)	Thecurrency that the investor trades the base currency against (i.e.USD in EURUSD).
Shortposition	Aposition that benefits from a decline in market prices.
Short	Tosell.
Speculative	Buyingand selling in the hope of making a profit, rather than doing sofor some fundamental business-related need.
Spot	ASpot rate is the current market price of an asset.
Spotmarket	Thepart of the market calling for spot settlement of transactions.The precise meaning of 'spot' will depend on local custom for acommodity, security or currency. In the UK, US and Australianforeign-exchange markets, 'spot' means delivery two working dayshence.
Spread	Thedifference between the bid and the ask rate.

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Saudi Arabia: Listed firms make profits - Al-Bawaba

Saudi Arabia News — Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Author: Saudi Arabia News

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Saudi Arabia: Listed firms make profits
Al-Bawaba, Jordan - 12 hours ago
A total of 68 public joint stock companies operating in Saudi Arabia, whose shares are being traded in the Saudi Stock Exchange, reported net profits of SR38 ...
Saudi listed companies report net profit of $10.2 billion in H1 Middle East North Africa Financial Network
all 2 related

PM goes to Saudi Arabia next month - The Daily Star

Saudi Arabia News — Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Author: Saudi Arabia News

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

PM goes to Saudi Arabia next month
The Daily Star, Bangladesh - 9 hours ago
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will pay a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 12 at the invitation of King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz. ...
Quality medicine, quality service The New Nation
all 2 related

A Guide to... Education Fee Planning for Expatriates

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:10 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:10 pm

A good education is one of the few investments that can be made for a child that will be of permanent benefit. However, building this benefit will involve effective planning and considerable outlay from either capital or income.

Typically, the basic fees for a year at a private secondary school work out at over £7,500 a year - and that’s before paying for the inevitable extras such as school trips, books and music lessons. Fees for full time borders - often a necessity for the internationally mobile - can be twice as much.

Even more horrifying, the cost of a full time university course plus living expenses can be over US$ 35,000 per annum for anywhere between 3 and 6 years.

However, with foresight you can use an investment that will provide the growth potential to give you part or even all of the money you need to ensure you can provide the best education for your children. Candour provides investment advice on various types of school and university expenses plans, whether funded from capital or income.

Funding from Capital
If capital is available to invest for education expenses (perhaps from generous grandparents!) tax efficient investments and Trusts can be used to maximise the return on this capital. The investment return is partly dependent on the length of time before fees have to be drawn down, so the sooner you start the better.

Funding from Income
The benefit of saving for a child’s education is that the investment is generally for the longer term (more than 10 years) and very often made on a regular basis.

When saving smaller regular amounts, the best way to invest is through a unit or investment trust. These are pooled investment funds which give access to a wide spread of shares and other securities such as bonds.

These funds may be actively managed - where a fund manager picks individual stocks based on a view of their future potential - or passively, where a manager invests in all the shares that comprise a stock market index, such as the FTSE 100 or the S&P 500.

Example
Mr & Mrs Jones wish to send their daughter to university in 15 years time. They believe that inflation will rise on average by 3% per annum in that time and consequently wish to save for fees that will be in the region of £30,000 per annum.

As such, the total fund they are likely to require is £90,000 to cover these costs. By saving as little as £350 each month, they should reach their target and avoid the day-to-day strain on their future finances.

Candour Consultancy advises on a wide range of lump sum and regular contribution education fee planning products from the worlds leading financial institutions

A Guide to... Expatriate Retirement Planning

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:09 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:09 pm

Most people look forward to a retirement where they can devote more time to the pastimes they enjoy. However, when it comes to retirement planning and pensions, a veil of confusion tends to cloud their perspective. This is especially the case for expatriates who may live in several countries and work for numerous employers throughout their life.

The essential fact about retirement planning is that it is simply making provisions out of your current income and investing for the time when you come to retire. Though most countries provide some retirement income for their citizens, at the end of the day it is up to the individual to make provision and, in this way, providing for retirement is no different than setting aside money for any other future purpose such as a new car, a house deposit or holiday.

The significant difference between retirement planning and other investment objectives is one of magnitude. In retirement, we expect a continuation of, at the very least, our current standard of living. Given that we spend an increasing proportion of our lives in retirement and State benefits are reducing, the need for early, effective retirement planning has never been greater.

However, modern society is told by TV adverts, children’s demands, etc… that immediate gratification is the only way. So how do you marry up these 2 key ideals?

Basically, the answer is NOT TO DELAY!

The cost of delaying the savings process can have a dramatic effect on both the amount you need to invest and the impact this will make on your lifestyle. Friends Provident International has illustrated this perfectly in their sales literature for their offshore pension plan.

Friends Provident calculated the increase in monthly contributions for a fictional individual who would like to retire at the age of 55 with a retirement fund of US$1 million, assuming he kept delaying contributions by a further 5 years.

The tables below show how much extra the individual would need to contribute each month just to reach the same target.

Example A
Age Minimum monthly premium required (2) Duration of policy Total premium required to achieve US$1million at age 55
30 $1,845 25 years $553,500
35 $2,659 20 years $638,160
40 $4,065 15 years $731,700
45 $6,935 10 years $832,200

Example B
Age Minimum monthly premium required (2) Duration of policy Total premium required to achieve US$1million at age 55
30 $1,053 25 years $315,900
35 $1,729 20 years $414,960
40 $2,983 15 years $536,940
45 $5,689 10 years $682,680

Example A assumes an average growth rate of 5% whilst Example B assumes a 9% average growth rate.

Now US$1 million sounds like a lot of money, but when you consider current annuity rates for a 55 year are just over 5%, this only amounts to an annual income of US$51,000. This would be lower still if you want to inflation proof your income!

As such, the questions we all need to ask are:

* Is this going to be sufficient to maintain your lifestyle in retirement?
* Is this enough to do all the extra things in retirement, like travelling, you wish to do?
* What about inflation, what about annuity rates falling further?

All these points mean that two things are vital, one that you start saving for your retirement as soon as possible and secondly that you review these plans regularly.

Additionally, as an expatriate, it is important that you an international pension policy established in a freely convertible currency to ensure you can seamlessly save for your retirement as you move from employer to employer or country to country.

What you can afford to contribute to ensure your future is dependent on many factors; including your current, ongoing financial commitments. Candour Consultancy recommends you contribute 15% of your income, throughout your career, as a good benchmark for achieving a financially independent retirement.

After all, the true cost of delay is not achieving your goals and dreams, not the cost of saving money now!

A Guide to... Expatriate Medical Insurance

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:08 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:08 pm

Having medical insurance while you're abroad may well be essential but it’s not going to be much good if there are conditions that are not covered under your plan. Most private medical insurance providers now operate on such a large, global scale that there are few glaring exclusions that could trip you up. However, a little time spent going over a company’s terms and conditions will bring to your attention some omissions in plans that you may want to know about before you sign.

The most important thing that might be missing from your plan, according to many PMI providers, is cover for chronic conditions. Obviously, a provider won't cover you automatically for any pre-existing conditions that would be like insuring a house that is already burning down, but should you develop asthma or diabetes after signing the plan, you will want to know that you are covered for this. Some providers, however, will only cover you in severe cases of any chronic condition that has arisen, such as a diabetic coma.

This means that some companies, particularly ones that offer basic-level plans, will cover you in an emergency or in the short term, but not for the routine, ongoing treatment that you need. From an insurer's point of view you can understand why they may do this as illnesses like asthma and diabetes are spreading in today’s world and costs could spiral out of control if they insured everyone. Yet there are a lot of plans out there that will cover your everyday treatment of such illnesses, so it's up to you whether you want to pay the costs or be covered for them, (albeit sometimes with restrictions on the amount you can claim), under your plan.

There are also other features that are worth checking to see if you are covered. One of the greatest omissions on many PMI plans is cover for congenital defects. It is worth checking to see if there are any restrictions in their plans when, for instance, they have a baby with a birth abnormality that needs treatment. There are restrictions to this with some providers. People buy healthcare when they reach a certain age, and are more conscious of protecting their family - for this reason people should check all that is covered under pregnancy cover.

It must be also borne in mind that pregnancy cover is usually only available after you have had your plan for one year. This is pretty standard, but will make you plan that bit further, especially if you are set to have a baby in a country where healthcare is expensive, like the US or the Caribbean. You may well want to check the amount you can claim for a normal pregnancy, too, as the average cost, according to Goodhealth, will be around US$4,500 - US$ 7,500.

Sports
Aside from treatment for serious illnesses, potential clients should consider what activities or sports they may like to enjoy. A lot of providers, such as William Russell, provide cover for all sports so you’re free to go white-water rafting or throw yourself off a bridge with some elastic tied round your ankles. Jenni Sobnack, marketing consultant at William Russell says: “You will be covered for all sports as long as you’re not doing it professionally. If, as is more likely, you have an injury playing something like football and break your leg, it is important to get in touch with us or our partner International SOS as soon as possible so that we can arrange to pay the hospital directly and leave you with no upfront fee to pay.” Other firms do have restrictions on what they would like you to do, so hang-gliding may have to be postponed.

A recent addition to some plans has also been infertility treatment which is often not covered. Some provides now cover investigations in to infertility up to the point of diagnosis. It also covers IVF treatment up to a limit of £2,000 a year with four attempts allowed in a lifetime.

Psychiatric treatment is another area that not every provider is agreed on. Most will provide some level of cover, but there it is often limited to inpatient care and the amount you can claim back. Landers says that providers put these restrictions in place as it is hard to know how many visits to a psychiatrist will need to be made and how much ongoing treatment will be needed. Although having cover for such things as emergency evacuation are of higher priority when selecting a plan, most PMI providers have warned of the dangers of stress, especially on a busy expatriate lifestyle.

As such, only by doing the boring work of checking a firm’s terms and conditions (or by speaking to an independent financial brokerage such as [url-http://www.candourconsultancy.com]Candour Consultancy[/url]) can you figure out exactly what you will be protected against and begin to compare plans.

Commonly left out of many policies are:-

* Pandemics - such as Bird Flu!
* Chronic conditions arising after purchase of plan
* Pregnancy cover, complications and congenital defects.
* Infertility cover
* Psychiatric treatment
* Sports (including extreme sports)
* AIDS (often not covered for individuals but under group schemes)
* Routine dental treatment

Introducing Candour Consultancy

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:07 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:07 pm

website which contains a wide range of articles and impartial regional advice for expatriates living in the Gulf including:-

* Offshore Savings & Investment Policies
* Expatriate Life Assurance and Medical Insurance
* International Pension Plans
* Tax Planning
* Expatriate Mortgages
* Offshore Banking
* Business Protection and Gratuity Replacement Policies

We look forward to welcoming you to www.candourconsultancy.com

Visa To Saudi Arabia / Saudi Arabia Immigration Guide

Anonymous — Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:49 pm

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:49 pm

VISA TO SAUDI ARABIA / SAUDI ARABIA IMMIGRATION GUIDE

Passport/Visa Note

(a) Unaccompanied women must be met at the airport by their sponsor or husband and have confirmed onward reservations as far as their final destination in Saudi Arabia. If met by a sponsor, it is worth noting that there are restrictions on women travelling by car with men who are not related by blood or marriage. However, it is acceptable for women visiting for business purposes to be accompanied and met at the airport by male business partners: further enquiries can be made at the Information Centre or Embassy. Women and under-aged children should be accompanied by a Moharram (close male family member).

(b) No foreign passenger who is working as a domestic servant in Saudi Arabia should be transported to Saudi Arabia unless holding a valid non-refundable return ticket.
Passports

A passport valid for six months at time of entry is required by all except Muslim pilgrims holding Pilgrim Passes, tickets and other documents for their onward or return journey and entering the country via Jeddah or Medina - although sufficient evidence of Muslim faith must be provided (eg religious authenticated certificate). All passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the estimated stay in Saudi Arabia.
Visas

Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 18 hours, provided holding valid onward or return documentation, not leaving the airport and making no further landing in Saudi Arabia (except nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria who always require a transit visa);
(c) holders of re-entry permits and ‘Landing Permits’ issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (see Contact Addresses section).

Restricted entry

(a) Holders of an Israeli passport or passports with Israeli stamps in them.

(b) Passengers not complying with Saudi conventions of dress and behaviour, including those who appear to be in a state of intoxication, or who display inappropriate affection (especially between men and women) will be refused entry (see Social Conventions section).

(c) There are special regulations concerning pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. Contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for further information. Members of the Quadyani religious group may be refused entry when travelling for pilgrimage purposes.

Types of visa and cost

Family Visit: £39.
Business: £39; £96 (multiple-entry).
Work: £10, if paying at Embassy, or SR1000 to be paid by employer in Saudi Arabia.
Residency: £10.
Transit: £10.
Pilgrim (Ummra): no charge (one to three months for a maximum of 30 days).

Note

(a) The Pilgrim (Ummra) visa can only be obtained through an authorised 'Ummra Agency', appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Check with Embassy for a full list of appointed agents. Administrative fees may apply.

(b) Transit passengers who stay in the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port or Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina for over 24 hours can perform Ummra or visit a Holy Mosque, provided they withhold a signed agreement with one of the appointed Ummra agencies.

Validity
The visa stay period starts from the first day of entry into Saudi Arabia within the visa’s valid dates. Ummra visas are valid for 30 days once in Saudi Arabia.
Application to
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Travellers are advised to apply well in advance.

Application requirements

Family/Residency:

(a) One application form.

(b) One passport-size photo affixed to application form. Children travelling on parents' passport must have photos affixed on passport and endorsed by relevant authorities with photos attached on application form. Copies of birth certificate and marriage certificate of all accompanying children and spouses are also required.

(c) Passport valid for at least six months.

(d) Prepaid, self-addressed, recorded delivery envelope, if applying by post. If applying by post from Ireland (Rep), enclose a minimum of nine coupons.

(e) Fee (payable in cash, by postal order or by banker’s draft only for nationals from Ireland (Rep)).

(f) Invitation from host or sponsor, with authorisation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(g) Medical report, authenticated by the UK Foreign Office (for persons over 15 years of age). Applicants from Ireland (Rep) should legalise their medical report at the Irish Foreign Office in Dublin.

(h) Authorisation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained by their sponsor in Saudi Arabia.

Business:

(a)-(e) and,
(f) Letter of invitation from Saudi host company endorsed by Saudi Chamber of Commerce (original and copy).

(g) Letter from company or organisation in own country.

Work:

(a)-(e) and,

(f) Letter of introduction from Saudi sponsor and copy of the employment contract.

(g) Copies of academic qualifications and work experience in the field of job applied for.

(h) Letter of No Objection if previously employed in Saudi Arabia.

(i) An amount equivalent to SR50 deposited at the Consulate’s cashier desk.

Pilgrim:

(a)-(d) and,

(e) Airline ticket with confirmed booking (both ways). The point of entry and departure must be Jeddah or Medina.

(f) Meningitis immunisation certificate with validity for more than three years and vaccination issued no less than 10 days before travelling. A Yellow Fever certificate may be required, if travelling from an infected area.

(g) ID card must be worn on wrist band and luggage must be clearly labelled: 'PILGRIM'.

(h) Letter of approval issued by Saudi Ministry of Hajj, confirming that the authorised UK travel agent, tour operator and charities, through which the application for Hajj was submitted, have completed the necessary requirements regarding their pilgrims.

(i) Proof of conversion to Islam may have to be submitted.

Transit:

(a)-(e) and,

(f) Airline ticket reservation showing proof of leaving Saudi Arabia within 48 hours and visa valid for next destination if applicable.

Note
(a) An Exit Permit is required for most nationals, requiring a passport-size photo and must be issued by the Chief of Police (usually processed within three days after application). It is advised to enquire at the nearest Embassy for further information.

(b) There are further requirements for Ummra applications, but these must be submitted by the endorsed travel agent or tour operator.
Working days required

At least 24 hours. At least one week if applying by post. For information on processing time for all other types of visa, contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy).

SAUDI ARABIA : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Country Profile

Anonymous — Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:46 pm

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:46 pm

SAUDI ARABIA : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Country Profile

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan on the north, Iraq on the north and north-east, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the south and south-east, and Yemen on the south, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west. It is called "the land of the two holy mosques", a reference to Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest places.

History of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A regional ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer, Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over the next one hundred and fifty years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula. The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).

In 1902 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud captured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued Al-Ahsa, Al-Qatif, the rest of Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. On 8 January 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King of Hijaz. On 29 January 1927 he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title was Sultan). By the Treaty of Jedda, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm, then known as the Kingdom of Hijaz and Nejd. In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The discovery of oil in March 1938 transformed the country economically, and has given the kingdom great legitimacy over the years.

Besides Liechtenstein, Saudi Arabia remains the only country in the world named after its ruling family. Many opponents of the House of Saud reject the family's legitimacy and decline to speak of the country as "Saudi Arabia".

Politics of Saudi Arabia

The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the Saudi monarchy. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a).

There are no recognized political parties or national elections. The king is often classified as an absolute monarch, but his powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in Saudi society. The state's ideology is Salafi. This flavour of Islam spreads further by funding construction of mosques and Qur'an schools around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema.

Saudi kings have gradually developed a central government. Since 1953, the Council of Ministers, appointed by and responsible to the king, has advised on the formulation of general policy and directed the activities of the growing bureaucracy. This council consists of a prime minister, the first and second deputy prime ministers, 20 ministers (of whom the minister of defense also is the second deputy prime minister), two ministers of state, and a small number of advisers and heads of major autonomous organizations.

Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers, ratified by royal decree, and must be compatible with the Shari'a (Islamic law). Justice is administered according to the Shari'a by a system of religious courts whose judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, composed of 12 senior jurists. The independence of the judiciary is protected by law. The king acts as the highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. Access to high officials (usually at a majlis, or public audience) and the right to petition them directly are well-established traditions.

Saudi Municipal elections took place in 2005 as a first step to open the way to form political parties in the future.

Saudi courts impose capital punishment and corporal punishment, including amputations of hands and feet for serious robbery, and floggings for lesser crimes such as "sexual deviance" (i.e. homosexuality) and drunkenness. The number of lashes is not clearly prescribed by law and varies according to the discretion of the presiding judges. The number ranges from dozens to several thousand, usually applied over a period of weeks or months. In 2002,the United Nations Committee against Torture criticised Saudi Arabia over the amputations and floggings it carries out under the Shari'a. The Saudi delegation responded defending "legal traditions" held since the inception of Islam in the region 1400 years ago and rejected interference in its legal system. (Source: BBC, see [1])

Religious police enforce a modest code of dress and many institutions from schools to ministries are gender-segregated. Homosexual men and women are prosecuted (sometimes publicly) and/or executed, if they are found to be engaging in same-sex sexual activities.

Provinces of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (manatiq, singular - mintaqah).

Al Bahah
Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
Al Jawf
Al Madinah
Al Gassim
Ar Riyad

Eastern Province
'Asir
Ha'il
Jizan
Makkah
Najran
Tabuk

Geography of Saudi Arabia

The kingdom occupies eighty percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 square kilometers (856,355 mi²). Other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 square kilometers (830,000 mi²) and 2,240,000 square kilometers (864,869 mi²).

The climate is dry and hot. Dry desert with great extremes of temperature and the terrain is mostly uninhabited, sandy desert. In most parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds, xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Animals include the ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the highlands. Small birds are found in the oases. The coastal area of the Red Sea, especially the coral reefs, have a rich marine fauna. Saudi Arabia has a coastline of 2,640 kilometers (1,640 mi).

Saudi Arabia consists mostly of semi-desert and desert with oases. Almost half of the total country is uninhabitable desert with annual precipitation up to 100 millimetres (4 in) in most regions. The western regions are plateau and the east is lowland. The southwest region has mountains as high as 3000 metres (9,840 ft), and is an area is known for greenest and freshest climate in all of the country. The capital, Riyadh, which is to the center-east has an average temperature in July of 42ºC (108°F) and 14ºC (57°F) in January. In contrast, Jedda on the western coast has 31ºC (88°F) in July and 23ºC (73°F) in January.

Less than 2 percent of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the early 1990s, population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts, such as the Rub' al Khali (desert), the Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands. There are no permanent rivers and lakes in Saudi Arabia.

Economy of Saudi Arabia

Also: Oil boom (1974-85)

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia is known to be in possession of 260.1 billion barrels of oil reserves as of 2003, about 24% of the world's proven total petroleum reserves. It ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum and plays a leading role in OPEC. Moreover, the proven reserves increase gradually as more oil fields are discovered, unlike most other oil-producing countries. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of the GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of the GDP comes from the private sector. Saudi Arabia was a key player in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil producing countries to raise the price of oil in 1999 to its highest level since the Gulf War by reducing production. Saudi Arabia announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies in 1999, which followed the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth may constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant contraction of oil revenues combined with a high rate of population growth. Per capita income has fallen from $25,000 in 1980 to $8,000 in 2003, up from about $7,000 in 1999. The decline in inflation-adjusted per-capita income from 1980 to 1999 set a record, being by far the worst such decline suffered by any nation-state in history.

Recently, with higher oil prices, however, Saudi Arabia's oil revenues have increased dramatically. Saudi Arabia's budget surplus has crossed $28 billion (SR110 billion) in 2005. The Tadawul (The Saudi stock market Index) (TASI) finished 2004 with a massive 76.23 percent to close at 4437.58 points. Market capitalization was up 110.14 percent from a year earlier to stand at $157.3 billion (SR589.93 billion), which makes it the biggest stock market in the Middle East.‏

Saudi Arabia officially became a WTO member in December 2005.

Demographics of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's 2003 population is estimated to be about 24.3 million, including about 6.4 million resident foreigners. Until the 1960s, most of the population was nomadic or semi-nomadic; due to rapid economic and urban growth, more than 95% of the population now is settled. The birth rate is 29.74 births per 1,000 people. The death rate is only 2.66 deaths per 1,000 people. Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per square kilometre (2,600 /mi²).

Most Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from Turks, Iranians, Malays, and others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom. There also are significant numbers of South and South East Asian expatriates mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are around 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia, most of which live in compounds.

According to the CIA World Fact Book, 100% of Saudi Arabias citizens are Muslims.

The exit and entry visa cards ask applicants for their religious affiliation and officially bans entry to atheists, Israelis or anyone with an official stamp from the State of Israel.

Culture of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian culture revolves almost entirely around the religion of Islam. Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are located in the country. Every day, five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which dot the country. The weekend consists of Thursday and Friday. Islam itself derives from the same monotheistic roots as Judaism and Christianity, and traditionally Muslims generally regarded other religions with respect Jews and Christians are considered fellow 'People of the Book'. However the public practice of Christianity, the presence of churches and open possession of Christian religious materials are outlawed in Saudi Arabia. Israelis are also banned from entering the country. Islam's holy book The Qur'an is Saudi Arabia's constitution, and Shari'ah (Islamic law) is the foundation of its legal system. See Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia

One of Saudi Arabia's most compelling folk rituals is the Ardha, the country's national dance. This sword dance is based on ancient Bedouin traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while sword-carrying men dance shoulder to shoulder. Al-sihba folk music, from the Hijaz, has its origins in Arab Andalusia, a region of medieval Spain. In Mecca, Medina and Jeddah, dance and song incorporate the sound of the al-mizmar, an oboe-like woodwind instrument. The drum also an important instrument according to traditional and tribal customs.

Saudi Arabian dress is strongly symbolic, representing the people's ties to the land, the past, and Islam. The predominantly loose and flowing, but covering garments reflect the practicalities of life in a desert country as well as Islam's emphasis on conservative dress. Traditionally, men usually wear an ankle-length shirt woven from wool or cotton (known as a thawb), with a ghutra (a large square of cotton held in place by a cord coil) worn on the head. For rare chilly days, Saudi men wear a camel-hair cloak (bisht) over the top. Women's clothes are decorated with tribal motifs, coins, sequins, metallic thread, and appliques. However, Saudi women must wear a long cloak (abaya) and veil (niqab) when they leave the house to protect their modesty. The law does not apply to foreigners at such a high degree, but both men and women are told to dress modestly.

Islam forbids the eating of pork and the drinking of alcohol, and this law is followed strictly throughout Saudi Arabia. Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost all meals. Other staples include cooked lamb, grilled chicken, felafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shwarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and fuul (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon). Traditional coffee houses used to be ubiquitous, but are now being displaced by food-hall style cafes. Arabic tea is also a famous custom, which is used in both casual and formal meetings between friends, family and even strangers. The tea is black (without milk) and has herbal flavoring that comes in many variations.

Public theatres and cinemas are prohibited, as Wahabbi tradition deems those institutions to be incompatible with Islam. However, in private compounds such as Dhahran and Ras Tanura public theaters can be found, but often are more popular for local music, arts, and theatre productions rather than the exhibition of motion pictures. Recently plans for some cinemas that will allow Arabic cartoons to be featured in cinemas for women and children were announced.

The cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah Cultural festival.

An institution found in Saudi Arabia is the Mutaween, or religious police, also known as the Authority for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. There are 3,500 officers assisted by thousands of volunteers, whose job it is to enforce religious doctrine (Muslim Shari'a law as defined by the Saudi government) and to root out "un-Islamic" activities. They have the power to arrest any unrelated males and females caught socializing, and to ban consumer products and media, such as games and toys, various Western musical groups, and television shows. The Mutaween recently launched a website where people can file anonymous tips about "un-Islamic" activities.

On March 11, 2002 the Mutaween prevented schoolgirls from escaping from their burning school in Mecca because the girls were not wearing headscarves and abayas (black robes). Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result. There was widespread public criticism, and the Saudi government and religious leaders condemned the Mutaween for their actions. Although their influence and power has declined recently, they had been the focus of a few human rights concerns.

Source : Wikipedia